And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
David went out and fought with the Philistines. A brilliant victory was gained over the public enemy. But these fresh laurels of David re-awakened in the moody breast of Saul the former spirit of envy and melancholy. On David's return to court, the temper of Saul became more fiendish than ever-the melodious strains of the harp had lost all their power to charm; and, in a paroxysm of uncontrolable frenzy, he aimed a javelin at the person of David, the missile having been thrown with such force that it pierced the chamber wall. David providentially escaped; but the king having now thrown off the mask, and being bent on aggressive measures, made his son-in-law's situation everywhere perilous.